Chapter 25

"Frankly, your house is really too big."

After scanning the room where Ruri was, Bai Shi sat down without any sign of being拘谨 (awkward or reserved).

"It is big, but it's a bit quiet every day."

"That's true. By the way, are your parents not at home? Should I go and greet them?"

Ruri shook her head and said, "No need. They are rarely in the village. Because they don't have the talent to be ninjas, they can only do small business outside, and they only send a little money back each month."

Bai Shi's eyelids twitched.

Small business?

He really wanted to ask if Ruri had any misunderstanding about the meaning of small business.

"By the way, why did you come here? Although my house has a private training ground, it's too conspicuous and doesn't fit your mysterious style."

Yesterday, Bai Shi had told her that he would come to her place to handle something important.

"I want to conduct an experiment. Is there any hidden and sturdy vacant room?"

Conduct an experiment? Ruri frowned, not quite understanding Bai Shi's intention.

Given Bai Shi's level, Ruri didn't think he needed much space to mess around.

The research funds and living expenses she usually gave him were just a casual stroke of the pen, a sound to hear, without expecting Bai Shi to pay back.

Money was a concept she had never really grasped from childhood.

"Because I think it will be a bit noisy and dangerous, and my laboratory at home is too small."

Hearing Bai Shi's explanation, Ruri didn't press further. She led Bai Shi through a corridor and into an empty house.

Then she opened a wooden board in the house, revealing a secret passage leading underground.

Both sides of the passage were electrified, with lights on.

At the bottom of the passage, there was a roughly fifty-square-meter underground space, with hard stone slabs protecting the walls and floor, capable of withstanding ninja attacks.

"Is this okay? If not, there's a slightly larger one next door, twice the size of this one."

"Enough, it's even better than I imagined."

Bai Shi was very satisfied with the enclosed space, far exceeding his expectations.

"I'll go up first. Call me if anything happens."

Ruri went up alone.

Bai Shi took out a sealing scroll, spread it on the ground, and formed hand seals. With a bang, the scroll exploded in white smoke.

Along with the white smoke, a large number of research instruments appeared.

However, these research instruments were of a smaller size, fitting into the scroll.

Speaking of which, the sealing technique using scrolls to carry items was taught to him by Ruri.

After neatly arranging the various research instruments, Bai Shi began the experiment.

This experiment was different from the usual ones, accompanied by significant danger.

If the experiment succeeded, the rewards would be immense.

◎

By evening, the sun had set, and Bai Shi had not come out of the basement.

Ruri, who was in her room, finished her afternoon chakra training and had the maid arrange dinner. Seeing that Bai Shi had no intention of coming out, she ate alone.

After eating, Bai Shi still hadn't come out of the basement.

Ruri didn't bother with him.

Until midnight, when Ruri was having a good dream, the ground suddenly shook.

Ruri's body also trembled slightly. With her keen senses, she immediately sat up from the futon and scanned the surroundings.

An earthquake?

No. Ruri instantly negated it.

The epicenter was very close to her, and the way the tremors occurred was related to an explosion.

Although it wasn't very obvious, she felt it.

Thinking of something, Ruri didn't have time to put on a coat. She wore black tight-fitting underwear, slid open the wooden door, and quickly walked to another house on the corridor.

Her destination was the basement of this house.

When Ruri arrived downstairs, she saw the basement in a mess, with a huge crater in the middle.

Even the hard floor, which could withstand ninja attacks, was blown into such a crater, and Ruri's eyes showed a strange expression.

Then she saw Bai Shi, who was covered in dust and seemed to be shocked by the explosion.

In the crater, there was an extremely strong chakra... it felt a bit different, but it was a very intense aura that lingered, giving Ruri a sense of sudden pressure, as if a fierce beast was about to pounce.

Apart from that, there were only some completely destroyed research instruments, all of which were irreparably damaged.

"Why did you come?"

Bai Shi, regaining his senses, asked a silly question.

Ruri didn't mind these things and wasn't angry that Bai Shi had messed up her basement.

What she cared about was what experiment Bai Shi was conducting that could blow up the floor, which could withstand ninja attacks.

"What experiment are you doing?"

"Drawing natural energy..."

Bai Shi didn't hide it and answered honestly.

"Senjutsu?"

Ruri looked at Bai Shi in surprise.

"Yes, this is the hypothesis and steps of the experiment, but now I can also write the conclusion."

Bai Shi took out his notebook from his ninja tool bag.

Ruri took it and opened it.

Although she recognized every word, the professional terms were too numerous, making it impossible for her to understand what Bai Shi was writing.

"Did the experiment fail?"

Seeing the explosion, Ruri thought Bai Shi's experiment had failed.

"Yes, it can be said to have failed, but it can also be said to have succeeded. I successfully guided natural energy and merged it with ordinary chakra, but I don't know the ratio of their combination or if other things are needed to promote the fusion, which caused this experimental accident. After the natural energy and chakra went out of control, it became even more violent than I expected..."

Bai Shi picked up a corner of a damaged research instrument and stood there, deep in thought.

Ruri nodded in agreement.

Ordinary chakra, without the use of techniques, did not have such destructive power.

"What do you need next?"

Ruri, who had never been particularly interested in Bai Shi's research, had the idea of supporting him for the first time.

"Money, a lot of money! And a more solid space!"

Bai Shi didn't hesitate.

In his view, Ruri provided the funds and space, and he was responsible for the research. The final results would be shared, which was very fair.

◎

Following Ruri to the house upstairs.

"Live here?"

Bai Shi was surprised by Ruri's sudden proposal.

"Yes, running back and forth is too cumbersome. Otherwise, you can only come on Sundays, and the time spent on natural energy research would be too little, slowing down the progress."

"Wouldn't this raise suspicions?"

Bai Shi was concerned about this.

"Not everyone in my house is from the Uchiha clan. I can hire you with a formal employment contract. Besides, who would focus on a student from the ninja school? Do you think the Hokage's direct subordinate ANBU would handle such trivial matters? Even if an investigation is needed, it would be the job of our Uchiha Security Force."

Bai Shi thought it made sense.

After all, the natural energy experiment could not be conducted at his home.

His previous experiments were quite regular and not dangerous. Even if accidentally discovered, he could talk his way out of it.

But the natural energy experiment was different.

It involved highly confidential information that needed to be kept secret.

If Ruri hired him with an employment contract to work at her house, it would indeed be a good way to cover up.

The Hokage's direct subordinate ANBU wouldn't be so idle as to monitor a student from the ninja school, especially since Bai Shi had not shown any hostility towards the village.

He was a legitimate successor to the Will of Fire.

Even if something went wrong, it would be the job of the Security Force, and Ruri was a genius of the Uchiha clan with a powerful background.

The most important point was that he was very poor.

In Konoha, there was no such thing as child protection laws. When Bai Shi was six, he was kicked out of the orphanage and had to live on his own. It was reasonable for underage children to work and earn money for a living.

Ruri hiring him with an employment contract was also a form of help among friends.

After all, he and Ruri were almost inseparable in many people's eyes, and they were seen as very good friends.

It was normal for friends to help each other.

This way, he would have enough time to conduct the natural energy experiment and keep it sufficiently confidential.

"By the way, how did you draw out the natural energy?"

Ruri asked the question she was most concerned about.

The senjutsu information she had given Bai Shi was just some basic information.

She was very curious about how Bai Shi drew out the natural energy.

"Didn't you read the previous notes? It's actually quite simple. I don't know how the First Hokage guided natural energy, but I started from the source of chakra, using the chakra system to lure out natural energy."

"..."

"Speaking of the specific source of chakra, it is actually related to our daily state and diet. Physical strength cannot be separated from food intake, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and glucose. Mental energy is not only related to the soul but also to emotions, which can influence a person's mental state. Ultimately, physical and mental strength come from these, undergoing chemical-like reactions in the body to form chakra. Of course, this involves a more complex self-processing system of the body, and different people have different physical qualities, which leads to... uh, do you understand?"

"..."